Connecter



Sept. 14, 1937. H, A, DOUGLAS 2,093,037

CONNECTER Filed Feb. 5, 1954 5&1.

l l l u y u [0* il/6 6 q /N//f/vrag? ,70 HARRY A. @QU-LAS AMM, M

Patented Sept. 14, 11937' PATENT OFFICE:

coNNEc'rnn.

Harry A'. Douglas, Bronson, Mich., aignor to ingston Products V(lorpomtion, a corporation Application February 5, 1934, Serial No. '109,693

' s claims. (C1. 11s-32a) This invention relates to improvementsin connecters and more particularly to a connecter construction for connecting electric current conductors or wires.

- I 5 It is an object of this kinvention to provide a simple and positive means for continuing the electriccurrent from the end of one conductor to the end of the other, which can be easily connected or disconnected and in which one terminal .is resiliently engaged within the connecter whereby Y the terminals of the conductors are normally held in contact and at the same time allowing a mo'- mentary breaking of the circuit upon an excessive tug or pull in service and immediately l5 thereafter again closing the circuit without disrupting the connecter. It isnanother object of this invention to provide a connecter of the type just described with means insulatingboth conductor 'terminals when continuing the current within the connecter and so enclosing the connection as to allow of a momentary separation of the terminals and, in the event of the current arcing at the moment of separation, the arc will occur within a chamber of insulating material.

- Y With these and other objects in view, reference is made to the accompanying sheet of drawing which illustrates preferred forms of this invention, with the understanding that detail changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. y

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an embodiment of this invention with the ends of two electric conductors connected thereby.

Figure 2 is a view in section taken on the line 22, Figure 1, with parts shown in elevation.

Figure 3 isa detail projected view of the parts shown in section as in Figure 2 before the connection is completed. 1

Figure 4 is a detail view in section taken on the line 4 4, Figure 3, with parts in elevation showing a means for securing the shell upon-the insulation of the immovable terminal.

Figure 5 is a view in end elevation of Figure 4, looking at the end adjacent thereto.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modified form of this invention.

In carrying out this invention the insulation I is stripped from each end of the commercial electric conductors 2 and 3 and terminals 4 and 5 secured to the respective ends, preferably by swedging, as shown in Figure 3. Each terminal is provided with a similar enlarged cylindrical portion 6 formed to closely engage the other by extending opposite halves of each cylindrical por tion' to provide interlockingmembers 1 having reverse curved surfaces of semi-cylindrical conformation constructed on equal radii on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the terminal with the external semi-cylindrical surface 5 extended over the said axis and joined tangentially to the curved end surface of the terminal extension, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, Whereby when the interlocking members are in engagement with each other the terminals and their 10 respective conductor ends will lie in the same axis, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The terminals when interlocked are all surrounded by telescoping metallic cylindrical shells 8 and 9 which are insulated from the respective 15 terminals and from each other by providing the inner cylindrical sleeve 8 with a sleeve I0 of insulating material extending beyond each end of the shell and having an axial bore II at one end of suiiicient size to snugly receive the conductor 20 2 and its insulation casing I. The exterior of this end'of the sleeve is of reduced diameter to provide an annular shoulder I2 and the metal of that end of the shell 8 spun thereover. 'I'he bore II of the sleeve I0 after entering the shell 8 is `2,5 increased in diameter 'to slidably receive the cylindrical portion E of the terminal 4 which is surrounded by a coil spring I2@l bearing against the reduced end of the sleeve and the cylindrical part 6 of the terminal. The outer telescoping 30 shell 9 supports the terminal 5 in axial alignment therewith within a sleeve I3 of insulating material having an exterior diameter coincident with that of the cylindrical part 6 of said terminal which it engages and having adjacent the other end, 35 but spaced apart therefrom, an integral annular flange I4 centering the sleeve I3 lWithin the shell 9 and the metal of the end of the shell is spun over the outer side of the flange I4. The sleeve I3 is preferably held against rotation within the 40 shell 9 by providing a transverse groove I5 in the edge of the ange I4 adapted to receive a rib I6 struck in from the surrounding shell. If desired, the sleeve may be held against axial movement after having been received Within the `shell by 45 striking in tongues I'l from the surrounding shell to engage the flange I4, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The sleeve I3 positions the terminal 5 of the conductor 3 with its locking member 'I subr stantially flush with the open end of the shell 9. "0

To connect the conductors 2 and 3 the terminal 4 of the conductor 2 is extended beyond its sleeve I0, as shown in Figure', 3, interlocked with the terminal 5 of conductor 3 and then the sleeve IIJ r is telescoped over the cylindrical interlocking 5" tion of the sleeves I Il and Il, whereby the connection between the conductors is contained within the insulated chamber fprmed thereby, bayonet pins I8 are provided upon the shell 8 coacting with bayonet slots I9 upon the shell 9 having the usual bayonet seat 2,0 within which the pins I 8 are held seated by the spring y I2* exerting pressure on the sleeve I0 and thereby upon shell 8.

In the modification shown in Figure 6, the terminals 4 and 5 are not interlocked. In this embodiment of the invention the cylindrical portion 6 of the said terminals are each formed with a frusto-conical terminal 2|, the flat ends of which are held in contact with each other by the tension of the spring I2". Should this tension be overcome in service so that an arcing occurs between the normally engaged surfaces of the terminations 2| of the terminals I and 5, such arcing occurs entirely within the chamber formed by the sleeves I0 and I3, and any danger from conflagration caused thereby is eliminated.

What I claim is:

1. Electrical connection means, comprising: connectible members, comprising complementary insulating means so constructed and arranged that when said members are connected, said insulating means provide a chamber having outlet apertures; a pair of current conducting bodies movably disposed within said chamber, each of said bodies having an electrical conductor secured thereto and movable therewith, said electrical conductors extending through respective outlet apertures, and said bodies being so constructed and arranged as to be engageable within said chamber, and disengageable within said chamber by pulling one of said conductors in an outward direction with respect to the outlet aperture through which said conductor extends; and resilient means, interposed between a wall of said chamber and said one of said bodies, and constructed and arranged to yieldably hold said bodies in engagement.

2. Electrical connection means, comprising: connectible members, comprising complementary 'insulating means so constructed and arranged that when said members are connected, said insulating means provide a chamber having outlet apertures; a pair of engageable current conducting bodies movably disposed within said chamber, each having an electrical conductor secured thereto and movable therewith', said electrical conductors extending through respective outlet apertures; and resilient means, interposed between a wall of said chamber and one of said bodies, and constructed and arranged to yieldably hold said bodies in engagement.

3. Electrical connection means, comprising: connectible members, comprising complementary insulating means so constructed and arranged that when said members are connected, said insulating means provide an elongated chamber having outlet apertures at its ends; a pair of engageable current conducting bodies disposed within said chamber, and constructed and arranged so as to be movable axially of said chamber, each of said bodies having an electrical conductor secured thereto and movable therewith, said electrical conductors extending through respective outlet apertures; and resilient means, interposed between a wall of said chamber and one of said bodies, and constructed and arranged to 75 yieldably hold said bodies in engagement.

4. Electrical connection means, comprising: connectible members, comprising complementary insulating means so constructed and arranged that when said members .are connected, said insulating means provide an elongated chamber having outlet apertures in its end walls; a pair of engageable current conducting bodies disposed within said chamber and constructed and arranged so as to be movable axially of said chamber, each of said bodies having an electrical conductor secured thereto and movable therewith, said electrical conductors extending through respective outlet apertures; one of said bodies be ing limited in axial movement in one direction by abutment with one of the end walls of said chamber; and resilient means, interposed between the other end wall of said chamber and the other of said bodies, and constructed and arranged to urge said other body intoA engagement with said one body.

5. Electrical connection means, comprising: a pair of complementary connectible members; one of said members comprising a first tubular shell, an insulating sleeve carried within said flrst shell, a first contact body movably arranged within said insulating sleeve, and having an electrical conductor secured thereto and movable therewith, said conductor extending out of said sleeve, and resilient means interposed between said body and a wall of said sleeve; and the other of said members comprising a second tubular shell, having means cooperable with means on said first tubular shell to hold said shells in assembled relation, an insulating body, having an outlet aperture, carried within said second shell,

' and a second contact body, having an electrical conductor secured-thereto and movable therewith, said conductor extending through said outlet aperture; said connectible members being so constructed and arranged that when said first and second shells are connected, said -insulating sleeve and said insulating body cooperate to form an elongated chamber in which said rst and second contact bodies are axially movable, said resilient-means yieldably holding said contact bodies in engagement. l

6. Electrical connection means, comprising: a pair of connectible members. including a bayonet pin carried by one member and a bayonet slot carried by the other member, for releasably holding said members connected; said members carrying complementary insulating means s0 constructed and arranged that when said members are connected, said insulating means provide a chamber having outlet apertures; a pair of engageable current conducting bodies movably disposed within said chamber, each having an electrical conductor secured thereto and movable therewith, said electrical conductors extending through respective outlet apertures; one of said bodies bearing against one wall of said chamber; and resilient means, interposed between an opposite wall of said chamber and the other o1' said bodies, and constructed and arranged to urge said other body into engagement with said one body, the urging force of said resilient means being transmitted by abutment of said one body and said resilient means with said opposite walls of said chamber to yieldably oppose disconnection of said bayonet pin and slot.

7. Electrical connection means, comprising: connectible members, comprising complementary insulating means so constructed and arranged that when said members are connected, said insulating means provide a chamber Yhaving outlet apertures; a pair of current conducting bodies, having interlocking means constructed and arranged to releasably hold said bodies in coupled Y relation, said bodies being movably disposed within said chamber, and each of said bodies having an electrical conductor secured thereto and movable therewith, said electrical conductors extending through respective outlet apertures; and resilient means, interposed between a wall of said chamber and one of said bodies, and constructed and arranged to yieldably hold said bodies in electrical engagement.

8. Electrical connection means, comprising: connectible members, comprising complementary insulating means so constructed and arranged -that when said members are connected, said insulating means provide a chamber having outlet apertures; a pair of current conducting bodies,

having complementary hook portions constructed and arranged to reieasably hold said bodies in coupled relation, said bodies being movably disposed within said chamber, and each having an electrical conductor secured thereto and movable therewith, said electrical conductors extending through respective outlet apertures; and resilient means, interposed between a wall of said chamber and one of said bodies, and constructed and arranged to yieldably hold said bodies in electrical engagement.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

